~Samantha~

My children had barely survived one nightmare and somehow I still ended up trapped in a fresh one starring Dominic, Killian, and their stupid Alpha egos.

“I’ll train them myself.”

Killian let out a dry laugh. “You can’t handle this alone.”

Dominic’s stare sharpened. “I’m ready to do anything when it comes to my kids.”

“It’s not as easy as you think,” Killian pressed.

“I’ve survived wars, Killian. This is nothing.”

Not him using his bragging rights.

“Besides, why are you so against it?”

“Because I want to be their personal trainer, you can focus on other stuff.” Killian answered.

Dominic arched his brow in disbelief. “And why would I allow that?”

Killian’s mouth flattened. “I never asked for your permission.”

“You should, it’s basic courtesy.”

“You’re acting like I asked to adopt them till they grow grey hairs. I said I want to help.”

“I don’t want my children learning your wack moves.”

Killian paused for half a second before he gave Dominic the kind of smile people wore right before violence. “My wack moves?”

“Yes.”

Killian pointed at the blood on Dominic’s shirt. “Are we talking about the same moves that saved your ass from Black Moon while you kept getting flung around?”

Devon’s eyes widened. Diana gasped. I closed mine for one second, wishing I had a way to just mute them.

Dominic’s jaw flexed hard. “I fought hard, even better than you did so don’t say that shit to my face again!”

Killian got in his face. “If you fought like that in my pack, they’d laugh you out of the training grounds and you’d never make it past beginner training.”

Every trace of light vanished in Dominic’s eyes. “You’re standing in my pack, under my roof, talking crazy to me over my children. Another word from you and I’ll take your pack and show them what a real Alpha looks like.”

“You arrogant asshole.”

“You started it.”

I threw both hands up. “Why are we doing this here? Why is this even a conversation right now? Are you all not tired? Can we delay the alpha male chest beating till tomorrow?”

“No, there’s no need to because I’m their only trainer,” he replied.

Then he turned to Killian with a glare, “And if you don’t like it, leave.”

Killian tilted his head. “I don’t like it and I’m not leaving, what are you going to do about it?”

“You don’t want to know, buddy.”

Dominic snapped his fingers at me with an order. “Sam, remind him of his place here before I do.”

I snorted from pure disbelief. “His place? Dominic, be serious for one minute in your life. He helped save your children.”

Dominic didn’t look at me. “He had to be useful,  stop acting like he did it all alone.”

Killian sarcastically said. “How nice of you to say.”

I pinned the sky with a stare because maybe the moon goddess wanted to come down and talk some sense into who she created. “You know what? Perfect. Let’s keep escalating. Maybe Black Moon will hear us and come back for round two.”

Devon finally spoke up. “Dad should train me.”

Every head turned.

Dominic’s whole face changed, delight in his eyes. “You want me?”

Devon lifted his chin, trying to look tougher than his age. “You’re stronger.”

Killian made a low sound in his throat. “You’d be disappointed.”

Then Diana spoke too. “I want Uncle Killian.”

Dominic’s head snapped toward her. “What?”

She shrank a little at his tone but answered anyway. “I feel safer with him.”

“You can’t let him train you. Tell Daddy whatever you want and he will get anything for you.”

Diana hugged my arm. “I don’t want a bribe, daddy. I just prefer Uncle Killian because he explains things slowly and nicely.”

Finding out that my little girl was getting smart made me almost laugh but I knew better than to trigger Dominic.

Dominic caught my face. “You want to laugh? Tell me what’s so funny.”

“Everything. Bribing a child to choose you? Really? You can do better.”

Killian’s mouth twitched. “Good question.”

Dominic rounded on him. “Mind your business, man.”

“That’s exactly why I’m taking Diana.” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“We can switch after a week,” I suggested before this escalated. “Dominic gets Diana next week. Killian gets Devon. They rotate. Problem solved.”

Dominic’s face went dark. “You don’t seem to get it, do you?!”

“The word is thank you.”

“For what exactly?” He laughed but nothing seemed funny at that moment. “You already gave him everything else. Now he gets my children too?”

My heart pounded. “Gave him what?”

“You.” He pointed. “We all know you only brought up that suggestion so Killian won’t feel left out. Now he’s going to keep playing the nice victim guy so you make more room in our lives.”

“You make it seem like I demanded full custody of your kids. I only get to spend two hours with Diana and that’s a problem?”

“And should I remind you for the hundredth time that your mark is literally on Sam’s neck?”

“A mark stops nothing when it comes to you both.” Dominic shot back.

I balled my fists and sucked in a deep breath, “Why does every conversation we have circle back to your fantasy of me cheating on you?! If I wanted Killian, I would leave you without sparing a second.”

“I’d stop when Killian makes his own family and keep his nose out of mine.”

This wasn’t fair to Killian and if I was being honest, Diana and Devon were his family but Dominic would not want to hear that.

“I can’t believe I sacrificed my beauty sleep for this.” I grabbed both twins’ hands. “We’re leaving. I’ll train them myself till you both learn to work together.”

Dominic soon realized how bad this had gone. “Wait.”

“You had enough time but you blew it.”

“Fine. We’ll rotate. One week each.”

“I don’t want you to agree now and start whining about it later.”

“I won’t.”

Killian threw his hands up in acceptance. “I don’t mind the arrangement either. As long as Dominic doesn’t make a fuss.”

Dominic said through gritted teeth. “I’ll act right.”

“Sure you will,” I muttered. “You’re on probation.”

They both nodded and I suspected this wouldn’t end right.

The next morning was worse than I imagined.

I woke up early planning to check on the twins before training started. Found Dominic already in the yard with Devon. Both of them standing close, talking low.

I stayed back and listened.

“You need to take this seriously,” Dominic said. “Not just for you. For your sister too.”

Devon’s expression went crooked with confusion. “Why for Diana?”

“Because when she sees how good you’re getting, she’ll realize Killian isn’t doing a proper job. She’ll want to join us instead.”

“Really?” Devon’s face lit up.

“Yes. So here’s what we do. When you’re training, make it look fun. Like we’re having the best time. Laugh. Smile. Make Diana feel like she’s missing out.”

“And when she messes up?”

Dominic’s mouth curved. “Point it out, not in a mean way but enough to make her doubt herself..”

Devon nodded slowly. “So she picks you instead.”

“Exactly. Then we’re all together. One happy family without Killian in the way.”

Dominic has always been predictable but turning his son evil to score some points? I did not see that coming.

I stepped into the yard. “Are you serious right now?”

Both of them jumped. Dominic squared up too quickly to look innocent. “Sam, how long have you been standing there?”

“Enough to be shocked.” I pointed at Devon. “I want you inside the house now.”

“But Mum, we haven’t even started training.”

“No more training for you from Daddy today.”

His eyes darted to Dominic for support but when Dominic didn’t respond, he ran into the house.

I frowned at Dominic. “You’re teaching our seven-year-old son to manipulate his sister?”

“I’m teaching him strategy. He will need it when he become an Alpha.”

“You’re teaching him to be cruel! To make Diana cry so she’ll choose you over Killian!”

“That’s not what I said.”

“I heard every word.” I inched forward. “Dominic, what is wrong with you? This disdain for Killian is getting out of hand. The guy hasn’t done anything wrong for you to act like this.”

“He has done enough. His pack needs him and I need my family.”

“You don’t get what you want by turning my children against each other?” My voice shook. “By making Diana feel like she’s not good enough unless she picks you?”

“What do you mean by yours? They are mine too and she should pick me.”

“I won’t let her pick a man child! You were never like this,” I turned away before I said something worse. “You already have a strike. One more and I won’t let you train any of them.”

“I’ve more power than you to decide how to handle my kids.”

“Oh yeah?! Let’s see who they will listen to, me or the absent father of six years.”

His mouth parted and his eyes widened in shock but I didn’t care.

I walked away to find Diana already in the training yard with Killian. She was concentrating hard until she saw me then her eyes kept drifting past me like she was waiting for Devon to come stand beside her.

The light shook in a way I did not like, then flared too fast, spilling out of control around her fingers.

Killian noticed it immediately. “Sam,” he called, already rushing toward her. “Get over here. Something’s wrong with her power.”